Often considered ‘America’s Team’, the Dallas Cowboys are one of the wealthiest sports franchises in the United States. Owner Jerry Jones seems to be using that wealth to ensure that a protest-free NFL becomes a reality.
The 2017 professional football season introduced post pre-game analysis to a national audience with the popularizing of protests before and during the national anthem. Commentators across the country talk about players and their approach to protesting the national anthem, if any. Social media has been sure to provide their unfiltered opinions as well. It has truly turned into the game before the game, with all players subjected to be involved whether or not they support it.
The Dallas Cowboys first drew attention September 25 before a Monday Night Football clash with the Arizona Cardinals. Jones, along with other front office executives, joined Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, Dez Bryant and the rest of the Cowboys players and coaching staff as they linked arms and knelt before the anthem was played. They then stood during the anthem. They were met with a wall of boos from the home crowd.
One person who supported the gesture was none other than 45 himself, (Yeah, that guy.) calling it “big progress being made” via his Twitter account. Remember, 45 was the same person who said at campaign rally in Alabama just three days prior to the Cowboys game that an NFL owner should kick sons of b*****s who don’t stand for the anthem off of the team. Of course, it should go without saying that Jones financially supported the campaign for 45 to be elected.
Following a win against the Cardinals that night, Jones admitted to Fox Business that the football field is “not the place to do anything other than honor the flag and everybody that’s given up a little bit for it.”
On October 8, Jones doubled down on his previous words. “Under no circumstances will the Dallas Cowboys, I don’t care what happens, as an organization or as coaches and players, not support and stand and honor and recognize the flag. Period.” (via John Machota/Dallas Morning News) To date, he is the only owner to publicly take a stance against protests.
Last Tuesday, The Associated Press reported that a group of 11 owners and more than a dozen players held a two-hour meeting at the league’s headquarters in New York. Several sources stated following the meeting that dialogue was positive, and focused more towards the social causes compared to the anthem itself. There was only one owner who wanted none of it: Jerry Jones. Jones even argued to amend the league rules to where penalties would be given to those who don’t honor the flag.
Despite the dialogue, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell hasn’t made any changes in favor of Jones or the players regarding the anthem.
Which brings us to this past Sunday. AP journalists counted roughly two dozen players protesting the national anthem. One of those players: Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman David Irving, who raised his fist following the anthem. Irving did play during the win against the San Francisco 49ers, racking up a sack and a forced fumble. It will be interesting to see if Jones will discipline Irving, as this is the first sense of pushback against his team policy.
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The Outlaw Amongst Cowboys
October 24, 2017
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